Modern Vespa

If you could "create a scooter" what would it look like?
What donk would you use?

I've always liked the shape of a Puch SRA150 Alpine, with a bit of NZeta/CZeta, Zundapp Bella mixed in (as they're scooters I've had & liked)...obviously, with a Honda CR500 motor (gotta have that 2/- sound, ohh... and a bit of insanity)... I've got a Puch SRA body, but the CR500 simply cost too much these days!

In relation to the MOTOR... what would you use?
While a Vespa GTS300 (or similar) would likely be a "good" (fast) motor, it's STILL A TWISTIE, so a GEARED motor is preferred.
2/- air-cooled would be cool!

But now, I've actually got a chance to create whatever design I want, and actually may have to, as my new job involves making cars (Porsche 356 Speedsters currently) & I'm hoping to become a Coach Builder, so would actually need to create something for the qualification.... yay.

I always like all the vespa that i build (may not fancy but suite the budget) but if its come to a dream scoot, i will said i wanna T5 bitsa motorhead vespa and all the Vaderbilt, good theme and beasty engine (thing that always lack on all my build )

I was just gonna say, I just finished building my dream scooter. 😊

But, a Lambretta TV175 would be interesting. I'm not going there though.

I'd love to do something that was similar to the Henderson Streamliner.

Some of the Heinkel's have a similar vibe, but the lines on this thing are just superb.

Now that I have a lathe, next project will be something like this...

LOL.

Part lawn mower, part px200, part mp3. shag carpet. All entertainment!

I need a lathe

probably something along these lines:



-g

Nice!

At work (I've only been here a few months, but plan to be here for a LONG time) we just ordered a 1 cubic metre (3' cube) 3D printer! Which I think should be big enough to print a panel, so I can make some form of mould from it

Quite like those motovespa gt160s with the trimmed leg shield and trap head. The lines make them look planted. But fat custom scoots without too much fuss about them.

I've been thinking about a MOTOR... how about a KTM Duke 390cc?
Big-arse single cylinder with bucketloads o grunt!

THe fun bits... specially fun with a 12" wheel.

ENGINE: Liquid-cooled single, four-stroke
DISPLACEMENT: 373.2cc
BORE & STROKE: 89mm x 60.0mm
HORSEPOWER: 43 hp at 9500 rpm
TORQUE: 25.8 lb.-ft. @ 7250 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed
CLUTCH: Wet multiplate
IGNITION SYSTEM: Electronic, with digital timing adjustment

######## THIS IS THE NEW POST... Dunno what happened with the date ######

Well, the 390 motor is STILL top of my list. Upon further research I've found that It's got a close ration 6-speed box, plus a nifty clutch that "slips" rather than locking up when changing down gears, I really dunno what that means, but something like it is easier to drift the rear end MOTOGP style, which sounds fun.
Also, it appears lots of numnuts buy them & crash them soon after, so salvage auctions seem to always have them with very low kms.
Due to registration being a PITA in Australia (unlike the "Street Outlaws" cars that actually appear to be able to be driven on the road, &would simply end up as a HUGE fine & being sent to the crusher over here), the basis of the chassis will be a floor-change Puch SRA150 (ohh, also coz it's sitting in my back yard), with a bunch of strengthening & hopefully bits from the KTM (which seems to be simply lots of triangles. Technology, electronics, gauges, display & accessories would be off the KTM, therefore the stuff I don't really understand is already there & manufactured by KTM, so I don't need to reinvent the wheel... ACTUALLY that is 2 of the things I WILL NEED TO REINVENT!
Once the basic design /setup/ shape /layout of chassis is done the "final" most likely adjusted/redesign of the body will be able to happen. Here are a few pics of inspiration...

Sooooo much inspiration about designs...

Maria from Metropolis for one...

I did a new post today , which is ABOVE (dated June 22nd).... not sure what happened to the date though.

BTW; if ADMIN can work that one out, as it may be a gritch in the matrix. Also underline didn't work

Damn it's difficult to design a scooter that doesn't just look like a Vespa or some other design that has already been made!
If you have seen the Yankee/King&Queen seat cover on Speedy (https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic138919.3?highlight=ode+speedy) that I designed (& paid a LOT of $$ to get made), then you may understand a bit of what may be going on in my mind.
Also, My Civic had different paintjob on both sides, as I worked out that no-one can see both sides at the same time, therefore not many actually noticed! The Zip i rebuilt & repainted so the original lines of the bike were non-existent & it had a new "shape" (ohh, and all the dimpled plastic was melted flat!). Even the house reno I've just completed was rather different (& possibly a bit nutty) in places (eg. Bathroom & front Decking being my fav masterpieces).
I'm guessing that due to the shape/design of the motor & everything else from the KTM that it may be likely that there may be a minor difference with the shape of each side, yay.

Anyway, after all that blah, blah... Here are a few of my initial chicken scrawls for the initial design...
if you like any feedback or like a design, please let me know as I appreciate your input.

You've overthinking it. Just start from here and draw anything that fits. Easy!

Thanks for that, i will use it with future designs.. That's basically what I did, except for the floor, wheels & rider. However, there is a line for floor level, & 2 marks for front & back of body... then I can add wheels & cowl later to the same pic.

Ohh, and your wheel base is too short!

Good point about getting rid of the floor and wheels. It can't be a flying scooter if it has those!

Better!

Needs lasers because ... ummm ... doesn't matter why, it just does 😀

I always liked the look of Terrot scooters, not that you'd ever find one. Like a lot of vehicles from that time it looks old fashioned but somehow still futuristic.

That's pretty damn cool. It's a consideration as to turning or fixed front guard

More that it was easier to get 4 drawings to a page

I always like the headlight and fender to turn with the bars. Don't know why. Maybe from the countless hours riding an XR500R back in the day...

Oh, and lasers to turn with the bars too

The headlight should definitely turn with the bars. That's just a usability/safety thing. Even cars' lights follow the front wheels now to some extent.

I'm still struggling a little to get the vision of the sketches. My brother got all the aesthetic skills in the family (he's an architect), but I got the mechanical & technical aptitude, so it worked out just fine from my perspective.

Answering questions about powerplant (2t? 4t? lectrickery?) and fundamental geometry (wheelbase & wheel size, fork angle, structural stresses, etc.) would be the things I'd start with, because they're going to put pretty hard constraints on what you can or can't do with the visual design.

Also, how does registering a custom build work in Australia? I mean, in the US you can drive pretty much anything that's not explicitly banned and you can figure out how to attach a license plate, but most of the civilized world isn't that welcoming of creative transport.

Or you could just go crazy and build one of those awesome road warrior crew-served Indo Vespa's. I could probably get a VIN and license plate for one of those in Tennessee.

It's tricky to do custom stuff here, as need engineer certification etc, hence why I will Use the Puch Frame (chassis #) as it is pre-84 & therefore only needs to comply with regulations from the time (no indicators ...), then may register it & get it roadworthy (mechanical safety checks) , THEN change motor, (as only need to get check when buying/selling hence why I keep Speedy registered even when off the road, as no chance it would pass roadworthy check) & do modifications

IF it was a "new build " (like the Porsches I build) there is HEAPS of paperwork, testing, engineering etc

Powerplant is mentioned above (KTM 390 4t), on 12" wheels!

Nicely threading those regulations

So you have your geometry defined by the Puch frame, just need to sort what it's going to look like from there. Well, you're now well past the point where I have anything useful to add, unless you need advice on where to put the lasers.

Does this help?

Puch were more of a motorcycle manufacturer, so their design is long wheelbase and swingarm for motor, with chain drive, plus the donor has FLOOR CHANGE gears!

I get it!

Those Puch's are cool looking machines, but I can see where they'd have room for improvement from a functional perspective. Lots of room for a bigger motor, as you noted, and of course, the lasers.

My all time fav scoot is Puch SRA150 Alpine.

The engine should be a 250cc 90° V twin layout like a Moto Guzzi, but... 2T using Aprilia cylinders. 6 speed gearbox, shaft drive. in race tune it could produce 100hp, 65-75hp for road use. It would also include a balance shaft, oil injection to the crank big end and all the other tricks that have been around for 30 years.

Many the internal components could be sourced from other bikes.

I've always wanted a Honda CR500... big, single, 2t

engine idea

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/engine-components/listing/3342399651?bof=mTic2mSq&fbclid=IwAR1yAUa_4rASiNzJ8tmVflfZWgRrVKSBOXA5gP9R9wB3GDQZaG6vOju3otE

OMG... a CR2000, I couldn't ever dream that one up!

Now that would be fun on 12" tyres!

Squeeeee (heel kick & spirit fingers, with just a wee bit of pee)

another engine idea:

350cc opposed piston uni-flow. Vespa used a similar design in the Siluro land speed bike.

I used to have a ktm RC390. I bought it used with about 400 miles on it. The bike looked pretty cool, but the engine was uninspiring. It was like I was riding around on a Bajaj 4T Chetak. I'm not saying that it was or wasn't quick for its size, but I just found that the engine was boring. Though having that 390 engine in a scooter frame would surely make it less boring!

Dunno how I missed this!

You'll need an engineer to sign off on all of this won't you? It would be worth talking to one frankly about what you have in mind and see what is needed for certain stages of components... I think convincing a police officer that the 1956 150 Puch motor is indeed capable of 120km/h may be doomed to fail!

For some inspiration regarding motors and some of the difficulties that may be involved, look up 10-inch Terror. https://rocket-garage.blogspot.com/2015/10/ten-inch-terror.html

KEEP IT SIMPLE!

I don't really see a problem here, this should be cake!
Simply scale and section one of these sideways and do something like this, just please do it better :

Engineer sign-off aye?
I could always:
A. Register it, them do changes (Speedy Style)
B. My dad is an earthquake engineer... does that count?
C. Join a Scooter Club, put it on club plates, then do the changes & hope the Club Scrutineer doesn't notice the changes.
D. Create a Scooter Club; Become THE Club Scrutineer; have some crazy fulla join the club, who one day brings some mysterious looking foreign (possibly Russian, Polish or Austrian) scooter (i think it was "Phucn KLM" or something), "Scrutineer" it for him, as it ran crap & was only pushing 5hp at the time, I let it pass & get Club Registration...

Ohh, and it would be far easier to convince a cop that a 1956 150cc was DEFINITELY NOT going 140km/h & therefore his radar must have misread & he should stop with unfounded accusations!